Testing device.



0. H. NORTON.

TESTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1913.

THE

v Mar 94 NORRIS PErERs C0.. PHOIO-LITHQ. WASHING'IDN. D. C,

I C AR S-H}noa'rolvgor, WOR ESTER, MAssAcnUsETrs;

To ll-whom it may concern of a ,view of the and Fig. Sis an end scale of one of the suspending points and connected parts.

fr'nsrnve iJEvIcE.I

, lie it known I that: 1, CHARLES NORTON, a citizen of. the United States,' resid ng at ll' oif-cester, in the county of lVorcester and State of hilzis'sacli .isett's, have invented a new" and useful 'lestingfDevicefof which the following is a specification.

j The testing "of'ways for straightness and parallelism is one of the difiicultoperations in machine building. It has not been-unusual. to find a bed orbase whose ways were not straight or parallel when tested and whichflseeined to grow WQITSe instead of betterby continued scraping. In such casesit lu sbeenfound necessary in many cases to [send thfefcastingback to the planer and The planer s usually depended upon to leave the ways n parallel have it replaned.

condition while the straightness of the surfa'cesis obtained by scraping to a straight The test for parallehsm is commonly made with a precision'level which can magnify errors only a" comparatively small num} ber of times. v v y This lnvention is designed for the purpose of, providing ain'extremely sensitive means for testing such surfaces both for parall'ehsm amlstraightness and doing it with ease, certainty, and a high degree of accuracy, and vet providing adequate protection agamst the accidental disturbance of the instrument.

The invention also involves various fea:

tures of constructionby which these results are secured. i r

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a side .view of an instrument constructed in accordance with this inven-' tion. shown as applied to a pair oflways for testing them; Fig. 2 IS a transverse, sectional view of the ways on the line 2-42 of l l, on enlarged scale, showing a porti on of the instrument in end elevation; Fig; 3 is a ceif tral vertical sectional new of the suspending devices at the top greatly'em larged; Fig. 4 is atransverse vertical sec ticnal view of the lower part of the instru scale; Fig. ,5, isa plan.

n'ient upon enlarged of thebase thereof; Fig. 61s a front view scale and pointer; Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation on enlarged 'lh e device is shown angles, each s ame on the line 7+7 of IF ig. 6;.

I foration passes as mounted on a'cast foot plate 10. When used totest a pair of that. the bearing the foot. plate 10 and in the form ingsurfaces, the g and the rear tw012,

Specification of Letters Patent. P t t 's t 1, fap ucaiibn filed May 1,1913. seriarnmreeyuf 1 ways, one ofwhich is' V-shaped and the} This footplate isshowntriangularfin form with'three raised circular bosses 13 at the having a central tapped v,hole I toe at theright,

14. It also has 'a projecting in Fig. 5 to afford a long bearingsurface.{,f

The instrument is shown as comprising faf main body orbase 16 preferably of .cast alum num having three po nts of support T bearing spots, v vlded with a hardened I a. regular, surfaced plate orother part totest its accuracy. In that case ofcourse not usedl This body is provided with two adjusting screws 18 at each angle, and With fastening screws 19 entering the holes 14: from above for settingfithema'inbody of the instrument relatively to'the foot plate Each of these screws extends down through a horizontal flange onthe body 16 and through one of @the plates 17; secured under the same.-

adjusted position by lock nutsor theflike.

T he adjusting screws aid' in getting an original zero setting for the indicating needles, when the instrument'isusedon the foot plate.

-' The body or base'l6 is prov'ided with a central vertical mast preferably of' Shelby steel tubing and of a naterial height. The

mast is securely guyed and braced, For this purpose the main aluminum body is prof, vided with radiating arms 20 and 21,, 0011-. I stituting braces for an integral ring This ring is connected by means of steel l 100 guy wires 23 withthe top of the mast and these are ,provided "witl1 truss members 24 each bearing spot being pr: k and" ground [steel A plate 17, accurately surfaced so, that the in}, 'strument canbe moved over tlie'foot plate 10 is The screws 19 are held in at intervals along the mast. The wires can] be tightened individually by their. fastening Screws h u tion securely guys and braces the mast throughout its length to either from I prevent deflection anclvihration an. air currents or other causes. v i 1 1 .At thetop of the mast is a top piece "26 i I centrally perforated and through this per the top bf a piece offine piano wire 27.

It is secured to theitop of. the top piece 26 and dependsjdown through knife edge 41 resting in this groove.

weight or pendulum 30. it is secured to the member 28 by nuts in an obvious way, and ordlnarily is free to swlng, but a knurled screw 31. is provided on the side of thebody 1G for holding it in stationary position,

when the instrument is to be moved from place to place. Extendingdown from the u'pperpart of the base 16 area series of vanes '83 and the lead weight is provided with a corresponding series of depressions 3st constituting reservoirs for receiving oil into which the vanes dip. This is for the purpose of damping the vibrations of the pendulum.

The indicating part of the instrument consists of two needles 36 and 31', each mounted independently of the other and arranged to move in vertical planes at right anglesto each other. Each needle is preferably made from thin sheet aluminum formed into a flat tube which tapers to a point at the upper end. The joint along the tube preferably is brazed to make a continuousjtubular section having great stiffness in comparison with its size and weight.

Each needle is fulcrumed on ears 38 of the body 16. These are provided with a hardened stud 39 having aground and lapped \l-groove l0 on the top. Each needle has a correspondingly finished steel These bearings are practically frictionless. The level of this point or suspension is just above that of the top of the pendulum weight. Each needle projects vertically from its bearing and the lower part of the needle extends downwardly from the fulcrum and is formedinto a vane 42 located transverse to the'direction of vibration of the needle, that is, parallel with the bearing. 'The purpose of this vane is two fold ;-first, it aids in balancing the needle,

second, it damps the vibrations by dipping into a reservoir 43 of oil, thus helping to get readings readily. Each needle is connected to the pendulum wire by means of a fine catgut cord 44:, the inner end of which has a hook 45 which passes freely around the suspension wire 27 of the pen- H diilu'm so as to relieve the cord of any tendency to torsion. The other end of thi cord is clamped to the needle just above the fulcrum by means of a small knurled headed screw 46. The weight of each needle is beyond its fulcrum or hearing point, so as to make it tend to hang away from the pendulum. Y v

.A little above the point of connection of the cord to the needle is a second small knurled headed screw 48 of considerable lengthpassing through a tapped hole in the fulcrum arm of the needle in the direction in which the needle vibrates, that is, parallel with the cord. Its purpose is to provide the desired adjustments as to balance the needle for small vibrations when the instrument is being set up. Each. needletis covered by a sheet steel protecting plate or guard 50, to exclude dust, prevent injury, and reduce the possibility of air currents affecting the vibration of the needle. p

The upper end of each needle passes across the'end of a radial arm 51 which has an index line 52 marked zeroQ ,These arms and two lower radial arms support the guards Above this arm 51' is a 'adially adjustable scale also having a zero index line This plate can be adjusted in the direction of motion of the needle to give a second zero setting if desired, and is secured in adjusted positions by a knurled headed screw 56. l v The method of using the instrument-will be described Withparticular reference to the testing of the ways of a grinding machine, which as shown in the drawings, are l -shaped on the rear and fiat on the front. A grinding machine bed that has been planed is first scraped in a few spots to be used as bearing places for the footplate 10.

These spots are scraped so that when'the instrument is set up and leveled the read rings on the two scales are approximately Zero, or such as to show only avery slight error. The rest of the surface of the ways between these spots is then scraped to ice straight edge, and the entire length carea fully tested with the instrument after this is done. As the scraping between these spotsis done to a straight edge it is ob viously unnecessary to have one long enough to cover the full length of the way, for a straight edge sufficiently long to cover any two adjacent points is sufficient to perinit the scraping of the intervening space to a true surface. The instrument.- of course, is available for testing the final re sult after the scraping is finished.

It will be understood, of course, that the amount of multiplication depends upon the relative dimensions of the parts and that small variations in the relative locations of the bearingspots may vary the multiplications considerably. Crosswise of the bed the movement of the pendulum is in proportion to the perpendicular distance between the rear bearing spot and a line passing through the front spots on the one hand and the length of the pendulum from the point of its support to the point of attachment of the cat guts on the other. In the form shownthis is about 1 to 10. In this form also the length of the needle from the top to the fulcrum'is 50 times v fore, the magnification of the instrument crosswise of the bed x50, or 500 times.

Lengthwise of the-bed the multiplication in the instrument shown is not quite so great. The lifting of one front corner multiplies the motion of the pendulum bv a smaller amount than 10, and the total magnification is in this case about 433 times.

The different proportions of the base of the instrument and different heights of mast and lengths of needle will. of course, affect these degrees of multiplication. 1

It has been found in practice that the sensitlveness of the mstrui'nen't 1s very great. Vfithout the sheet metalguardsSO" currents of air in' the shop were sufiicient to keep the needles swinging and ,a1rset' in motion by a person walking near would move the needles. It has also been found in practicethat if the two guywir'es opposite one of the needles are grasped in the hands,

and six or eight passes made" over them, the expansion of these wires, due to the heat,

15 sufliclent to throw the opposite needle off the scale.

The'purpose ofmaking most of the parts with the exception of the, suspension, guy, and truss wires, and the fastening devices, of aluminum is first to make the instrument as light as possible so that it can be trans ported around the shop, and second in the case of, the needles, to make]. their motion as easy and frictionless as possible. Obviously, the pendulum can exert no force when it is at rest, and as it approaches that position the force becomes smaller and smaller;

therefore, to get a maximum. degree of sensitiveness the resistance of the needles must be reduced to the minimum.

It will be noticedthat the direction of motion from the point of the needle is always the same as the direction in which the pendulum moves from the normalcentral position. This isdue, of course, to the fact that the connection between the pendulum and the needle is above the fulcrum ofthe pendulum. The weight of each needle is beyond its fulcrum so that it hangs away from the pendulum except as constrained by the motion of the latter.

Although I have illustrated and described only single form of the invention and indulum depending freely from the top of which said needle swings.

tions of the weight.

ing needle to the weight for causing said mast, anindicating needle pivoted on the main bodyand connected with'sald pendulum for registering the vibrations therepoint above the top of said. main body Over 2. In'an instrument of the class described,

the combination with a'inain body, a'mast extending upwardly from the body,a weight depending from the top of said mast, and

two indicating needles, at right angles to' each other, bothconnected with said weight for registering'tlie";vib1"ations thereof.

3. In anins'trument of.- the class described,

the combination with amainfbody, a mast extending upwardly from the body, apendulum depending freely from the top of said mast, tin-indicating needle pivoted on the main body, and connected with said pendulum for registering the vibrations thereof, 'and means carried by said main body for damping the vibrations of the needle. 3 :f 'I

4. In an instrument of the class described,

.thecombination of the main body, a mast projecting upwardly therefrom, a wire depending from the top of said mast, a weight hung on the bottom of said wire. and located wlthin said body, said weight having reser voirs for liquid 1n the top surface thereof, and the body having vanes extending down into said reservoirs for damping the vibra- 5. In an instrument of theclass described. the combination of a mast. a wirev secured to the top of said mast and depending from it, a weight hungon the bottom of said wire, means for damping the vibrations of the weight, a bearing point at," ahigher level than the top of said weight, an ndicating needle pivoted on said bearing point,

and a flexible connection from the indicatthe needle to move with the weight. n v j 6. In an instrument of the character dc scribechthe combination of sa/pendulum, a bearing point, a needle having a bearing point resting on the first named bearing point and adapted to swing thereon, themain body ofsaid needle being located bc yond said bearing point, and a flexible connection from a p o-int. on thefneedle just .of, and "a scale carried by said mast at a f above the bearing points to the pendulum,

whereby vibrations of the transmitted to the needley- I p 7. in an instrumentof the character dc pendulum are scribed, the combination of pendulunnxa hearing po nt, a needle having a bear ng,

point resting on the first named bearing point and adapted to swing thereon. a flexibleconnection from-the needle to the pendulum, and a balancing screw adjustably mounted on the needle parallel with said flexible connection, v I

*8. In an instrument of thecharacter described, the combination of a mainbody, a weight supported therein and depending from a point at an elevation above said body so as to be capable of swinging within the body, a bearing point on the body, a needle having a bearing point resting on the first named bearing point and adapted to swing thereon, the main body of said needle being located beyond said bearing points, and a flexible connection from the weight to a point on the needle just abovethe bearing points, whereby vibrations of the, weight are transmitted to the needle,- said body being provided with a reservoir for liquid below said bearing points, and the needle having a vane extending down into the liquid in said receptacle for damping the vibrations of :the needle and aiding in balancing the needle.

9'. In. an instrument of the character described, the combination of a main body, a weight dependingfrom a point at an elevation above said body so as to be capable of swinging, a hearing point on the body, a needle having abearing point resting on the first named bearing point and adapted to swing thereon, a flexible connection from the weight to a. point on the needle just above the bearing points, and means for damping the vibrations of the needle andv aiding in balancing the needle.

10. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a main body, a weight depei'iding from a point at an elevation above said body so as to be capable of swinging, a bearing point on the body, a needle having a bearing point resting on the first named bearing point and adapted to swing thereon, a flexible connection from the needle to the weight, whereby vibrations of the weight are transmitted to the needle, and a radial arm extending outwardly from the main body at a point adjacent to the top of said needle and having a' zero point thereon. a

11. In an instrument of too character described, the combination of a main body, a weight depending from a point at an elevation above said body, a needle resting on the body and adapted to swing thereon, a flexible connection from the needle to the weight, whereby vibrations of the weight are transmitted to the needle, a radial. arm extending outwardly from the main body at a' point adjacent to the top of said needle, and having a zero point thereon, and a radially adjustable scale on said arm'also having a zero point thereon.

12. In an instrument of the character described, the combination the mainbody,

guy wires connected with the top of said mast and with said braces, truss wires connecting said guy wires at points between the braces and the top of the mast, a suspension wire extending down through the mast from the top thereof, and a heavy weight suspended on the lower end of said suspension wire.

13. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of a main body ofaluminum having an integral ring surrounding it near the top thereof, a hollow steel mast extending up from the center of said main body, *ires adjustably connected with said ring and with the top of said mast for steadying it, a cap in the top of said mast, a wire secured to said cap and extending downwardly therefrom through the mast, a weight hung at the lower end of saidwire, and means for showing minute vibrations of said vv'eight.v

14:. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of a main base, a

heavy pendulum hung therein from a height and free to swing in the base, means for 111- dicating minute vibrations of said pendw lum, and a plurality of bearing plates on the bottom of said base projecting beyond the lower surface thereof and accurately surfaced on their bottoms.

- 15. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of a main base, a-

heavy pendulum'hung therein from a height and free to swing, means for indicating minute vibrations of said pendulum, a pluality of bearing plates on the bottom of aid base projecting beyond the lower surface thereof, a foot plate under said base having bearing spots; thereon, screws eX- tending down through the base and bearing plates into contact with said bearing spots for leveling the base, and additional screws extending down into the foot plate for securing the base in adjusted positions.

1.6. In an instrument of the class deribech the combination of a main body having a projecting ring surrounding it near the top thereof, a mast extending up from the center of said main body through the ring and above it, wires adjustably connected with said ring and with the upper part of said mast for steadying it, a wire extending down through the mast from the top thereof, and a weight hung at the lower end of said wire and constituting a pendulum.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Vitnesses Howinn) N. DUNBAR, ALBERT TURNER.

CHARLES H. NORTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissionerof latents,

Washington, D. G." 

